How easy to book Disneyland California wth DVC points?

[acr4bbe]

Just for a change we are planning a trip to California in October 2008

We are considering using our DVC points to book a stay in one of the Disneyland hotels and I wondered if anybody has any experience, for instance........

Is it difficult to secure a reservation using points?
Do I need to make the reservation when the 11 month window opens?
Which resort do you think offers best value for points?

Hoping for some advice......

 

[DebbieB]

I just made a reservation last week for Paradise Pier DCA view for April 27 to May 2. 20 points per night (Sun-Thurs). The cash rate is $280 plus tax, so I thought it was a good deal.

 

[Beca]

I don't think it is difficult at all. Have fun!!!

 

[deej696]

We joined in June, and booked our trip for this coming New Years at the Disneyland Hotel with no problem. We were really suprised because we thought there was no way there would be availability during such a popular time booking so late in the year. The only minor glitch was we had to wait until the 2008 points were released before we could book the final night of our trip. Long story short, I think you should have good luck with it!

 

[kikiq]

I just booked 2 nights at the GC concierage for my birthday in January.
Was almost too easy<G> I told MS what days and which resort, and they put me on hold for a couple of minutes and came back and told me what was available.

I think Paradise Pier is the best value for your points BUT staying in the GC is unique. You have an entrance to DCA, a choice of DTD view, park view or garden view. But I'm biased...love the GC, Story Teller Cafe, Napa Rose, etc, etc, etc<G>

 

[Beca]

I just booked 2 nights at the GC concierage for my birthday in January.
Was almost too easy<G> I told MS what days and which resort, and they put me on hold for a couple of minutes and came back and told me what was available.

I think Paradise Pier is the best value for your points BUT staying in the GC is unique. You have an entrance to DCA, a choice of DTD view, park view or garden view. But I'm biased...love the GC, Story Teller Cafe, Napa Rose, etc, etc, etc<G>

ITA!!! One thing DVC'ers need to keep in mind is that both Paradise Pier and the Disneyland Hotel were not original DL resorts...they were taken over by DL after they were built. So, they have a different feel to them than Disney Properties usually do. One big difference for us is no balconies, or windows that open. I find the lobby in the Disneyland Hotel strange, although the grounds around the resort are beautiful (and so is the Neverland pool). I think the rooms at Paradise Pier look beautiful, but we did not care for the lobby/common areas at all....it's hard to explain why, but maybe because that place was PACKED!!!

In contrast, the Grand Californian is one of my FAVORITE properties...even when it is crowded, it is still serene!! The fireplace is my favorite Disney fireplace, and often served as an escape from the crowded park (especially at Christmas). It's kind of like the Wilderness Lodge moved to Beverly Hills, LOL!!! It is VERY Frank Lloyd Wright inspired....it is rustic and elegant at the same time.

And, the Storytellers' Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants!! The breakfast buffet is divine, and the Achiote Chicken Sandwich is the best food I have had at any Disney property.

No matter where anyone stays, I would highly recommend walking around, and eating at the GC.

However, I would encourage anyone thinking of a trip to DL check out discounted rates for rooms. The GC rooms RARELY go on sale (although I did have friends who got a $99 rate there), but Paradise Pier used to have great rates on rooms. We were there one April, and the resort was full...it seems DL had been offering a $99 special for the resort. It could be those rate days are over, but it is worth checking into.

Have fun!!!

 

[utahkennedys]

We used DVC points for our trip to DL this past May. We booked at DLH just a few months out and I think May is busier than October?

We loved the DLH even though we are spoiled by DVC 2BRs at WDW. We thought the DLH had an old-fashioned Disney appeal. The Neverland Pool was wonderful (DD5 is infatuated with Peter Pan) and we loved Goofy's Kitchen. We did take advantage of early entry as well and the monorail.

I think it was 19 points a night which was great considering the cash rate and we had points to use and live in Salt Lake City.

Go for it! Also, our room had a refrigerator which we hadn't expected and was quite a good size for a hotel room.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Actually, just to clarify, the windows (which are really sliding glass doors) do open at the DLH. There is no balcony but there is a railing type thing that makes it secure for you to open the window/door and enjoy the fresh, non humid air and have a nice view down below. PP windows do not open at all. GCH rooms (with a very few exceptions, something like only 12 rooms in the whole resort) have balconies.

Making reservations at the DLR using points is very simple, as easy as making a reservation at a DVC resort. Some nice perks to using points are that you will get daily maid service and you also get free daily internet service in your room (wifi). For cash guests, they pay a daily resort fee (around $12) that inlcudes that along with Mon-Fri USA Today paper delivered to your room and health club access. However, DVC members on points are not charged that fee but those services along with maid service are included in your points. Tax and resort fee can really add up so it makes using points an even better deal than just saving on the high nightly rack rates.

As another poster said however, you have to wait until the use year rates for your reservation are released, usually sometime around September 1. You can make reservations as much as 11 months out, however there are times that the rates are not released therefore they cannot make DVC reservations either. For example for my upcoming January trip, I couldn't make my reservation until early September. However, once September rolled around, all months for 2008 were ready to book. If you have a trip you want to book, you can call your DVC rep and ask them to call you as soon as DLR points values are out so that you can book. Can save some phone calls to ms trying to make reservations.

One other thing, there is no pool hopping for DVC members using points at the DLR at this point. All three pools are nice, however, when I stayed at the GCH and my kids wanted to use the Neverland Pool at the DLH we were just out of luck.

 

[acr4bbe]

Wow .... thanks for all the information

It seems this is something we should really do.

 

[nunzia]

You will LOVE the Grand Californian. Don't miss Whitewater Snacks at the end of the walkway. Good filling food at not bad prices, then it's just a few steps to side entrance to DCA.